Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Hosts Community Meeting on Station 20 Rebuild
NEWBERG, Ore. — Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue is inviting Newberg-area residents to a community meeting on Wednesday, July 16, at 7 p.m. at Station 20, located at 414 E. Second St. in downtown Newberg, to learn more about the station’s upcoming rebuild.
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Attendees will have the opportunity to view station design renderings, hear a brief overview of the proposed project, and ask questions of district leadership.
Built in 1940 and remodeled over time, Station 20 currently houses eight personnel per shift (24 total), who staff an engine, a rescue, a medic unit, and half of TVF&R’s Water Rescue Team. The station also maintains one of three wildland caches—equipment used when a wildland team is deployed as part of a Yamhill County mobilization.
Funded by a general obligation bond passed by voters in 2021, the rebuild will bring the station up to current seismic standards and incorporate operational efficiencies to improve response.
Site work is expected to begin this winter.
Local Artist Presents Wreath to Newberg School Board
NEWBERG, Ore. — On June 10, the Newberg School Board received a floral wreath created by local artist Amanda Bayha, symbolizing unity and growth in the community. The wreath now hangs in the school district office.
The project began in 2022 at an Antonia Crater Elementary School auction, where faculty, parents, and students were invited to add their own flowers to the piece.
“The wreath has changed and existed throughout the sticky stuff of transition in the district,” Bayha said. “So it continues to be a living example of change and evolution.”
Bayha is the artist behind Soul Seeds, a floral sculpture business she launched in 2020.
“My hope is that we get more opportunities to connect with nature and bring nature indoors,” she said.
The wreath incorporates aromatics such as mint, eucalyptus, and rosemary.
“These scents create a sensory situation that helps process difficult things,” Bayha said. “Each of the flowers represents people and their good wishes.
“This is a gift for the community—and everyone who is continuing to evolve in Newberg.”
Bypass Construction Prompts Traffic Shifts as Phase 2A Moves Forward
NEWBERG, Ore. — Drivers near the OR 18 and OR 219 interchange may notice increased construction activity as Phase 2A of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass progresses. The project aims to improve safety and traffic flow through the busy regional corridor.
Crews have shifted traffic on OR 18 to the south and OR 219 to the east to allow for barrier placement and upcoming work, including widening OR 219 between S. Springbrook Road and OR 18, and constructing a new westbound on-ramp to OR 18.
Travelers may experience brief traffic holds on OR 18 as off-road dump trucks move materials across the highway. While delays are expected to be minimal, ODOT recommends allowing extra time for travel.
A 35 mph speed limit is now in effect on OR 219 through the work zone. Drivers should expect equipment movement, construction noise, flaggers, and traffic cones. Pedestrian access remains open with ADA accommodations in place.
ODOT reminds drivers that fines double in all Oregon work zones, regardless of whether workers are present.
Once complete, the project will realign OR 18 to connect directly with OR 219, add new ramps and signals, and construct a bridge carrying the eastbound exit over OR 219. It also includes realigning NE Wynooski Road and widening OR 219 to include new sidewalks, drainage, and ADA upgrades. Construction is expected to be completed in 2027.
The $55.8 million project is managed by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
For details and updates, visit ODOT’s online open house or TripCheck.com.
Newberg Restructures Engineering Department
NEWBERG, Ore. — The City of Newberg has reorganized its Engineering Department at the start of the new fiscal year, creating two distinct divisions aimed at improving project management and service delivery.
Now split into Capital Engineering and Development Engineering, the department’s new structure is designed to better support city infrastructure and community development. The change follows a year of staffing transitions and internal reforms.
Capital Engineering will manage most capital improvement projects, as well as oversee the city’s GIS system, utility rate modeling, road repairs, and compliance inspections. The division will also support the Traffic Safety Commission and coordinate with Public Works to prioritize Transportation Utility Fee-funded repairs.
Development Engineering has been placed within the Community Development Department, working alongside Planning and Building. It will focus on land use integration, code compliance, select development-related capital projects, and master planning efforts, including the Transportation System Plan. It will also serve as a staff liaison to the Traffic Safety Commission.
City officials say the restructuring is intended to streamline internal workflows and improve customer service for developers and residents. Each division now has its own page on the city’s website with more information.
Local High School Seniors Receive Soroptimist Scholarships
NEWBERG, Ore. — Three Newberg High School seniors have been awarded scholarships by the Chehalem Valley Soroptimist Club for academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement.
Riley Coats Ogrenics and Katie Wharff each received the $1,500 Life Chances Scholarship. Ogrenics plans to attend CLI Conservatory in Southampton, Massachusetts, for intensive dance training. Wharff will attend Oregon State University in Corvallis, where she plans to major in education and become a history teacher.
Katelyn Nummelin received the Martin Bleck Memorial Scholarship, awarded to students pursuing careers in viticulture, enology, culinary arts, or hospitality. She plans to study applied agriculture with an emphasis on viticulture at the University of Idaho in Moscow.
Two students from St. Paul High School also received Life Chances Scholarships.
Scholarship recipients were recognized for their strong academics, leadership, and community service. Funds were raised through the Soroptimists’ annual “Soup’s On” event.
For details about the fundraiser or club membership, visit www.sicv.org.
